Red

Whenever i'm unsure about what colour to paint my nails, I always go back to a classic red. This time I was feeling a little bit crafty so I used some scotch tape and painted this awesome triangle design on my nails. I'm in love, obviously.

Stripes

Everyday Makeup Essentials

1. Foundation
On a regular basis I usually wear MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC35. Its light enough that my skin can breath but still provides a decent amount of coverage. I like to apply this with the MAC 182 Buffer Brush.

2. Concealer 
A light concealer under my eyes is a must for me. The Select Cover-Up Concealer in NC20 is a perfect everyday under eye concealer because it is both lightweight and medium coverage.

3. Blush
On a normal every day basis I usually stick to only applying a blush because it adds a hint of colour while not looking too dramatic. NARS Deep Throat is one of my all-time favourites because its a nice dusty rose pink with a hint of gold shimmer. I apply this with the Sigma F10 Powder/Blush Brush.

4. Eyeshadow
For an everyday look I always turn to my trusty Naked Palette by Urban Decay. With a great selection of soft neutrals and shimmery shadows, this palette is a must-have for any makeup lover!

5. Eyeliner
Eyeliner is a must-have for me. It brightens my eyes while adding a little bit of definition as well. My favourite liner is the Fluidline by MAC in Dipdown because it's both long lasting and not as harsh as a solid black liner. I apply this with the Smashbox Arced Liner Brush - my favourite gel liner brush ever!!

6. Mascara
A recent favourite mascara of mine has been Benefits They're Real Mascara.  It does everything I want it to - lengthen, volumize AND separate my lashes. It's also VERY long lasting which makes it perfect for everyday use.

7. Brow Gel
Like many others, my eyebrows can be a bit unruly sometimes. To pull a look together I always apply a brow gel to make sure my brows are looking perfectly groomed all day long. I recommend the Anastasia Clear Brow Gel which is available at Sephora.

The 70th Annual Golden Globes: Best Dressed

The 70th annual Golden Globes proved that plunging necklines, backless dresses, and sexy numbers are a definite trend for this award season. While we saw some amazing dresses at the People's Choice Awards, the Golden Globes have definitely set the bar a little bit higher.

There were a fair share of hits and misses but many stars put their most glamorous foot forward and lit up the red carpet.

Wearing a strapless coral gown by Oscar de la Renta, Jessica Alba brightened up the red carpet among a sea of neutrals. Despite not being nominated for an award, Alba caught the audience's attention with the figure flattering dress accompanied with side swept hair and a gorgeous coral lip.

Nicole Kidman stepped out on to the red carpet wearing a stunning Alexander McQueen gown from the Spring '13 collection with gold bead embroidery around the neckline and a sheer midsection. This look is definitely another to add to Kidman's long list of phenomenal red carpet looks.

33-year old Kate Hudson looked stunning in her form-fitting black gown also by Alexander McQueen. This gorgeous dress, featuring a daring plunging neckline, a belted waistline and an intense gold embroidered collar piece, showed off Hudson's amazing body while conveying her glamorous side.

Going along with black dresses, Eva Longoria stepped out in a sexy lace number by Emilio Pucci. Featuring a plunging neckline, open back, and a provocatively placed slit in the front, Longoria looked sexier then ever while still looking classy.

Jennifer Lopez arrived in along-sleeved silk gown by Zuhair Murad. This look, complete with a lace overlay and beaded detailing, was predictable but nonetheless sexy and flattering. 

The 70th Annual Golden Globes has definitely been one of the biggest red carpets of 2013 thus far! Next up: The Grammys !

Edgy Winter

People's Choice Awards: Best Dressed

It's awards show season and that means that some of the biggest stars are stepping out on to the red carpet in their best dresses and suits. This past Wednesday, the 2013 People's Choice Awards was surely no exception to this.

It seems as if 2013 is off to a great start, with most stars putting their most stylish foot forward. Taylor Swift, dressed in a sleek white gown by Ralph Lauren featuring a plunging neckline, proved that her timeless style can still be sexy. Naomi Watts, dressed in a backless gown by Alexander McQueen, looked stunning as per the usual and Julianne Hough dazzled the red carpet with her sparkling number by Tony Ward.

Bold and bright colors were also a favorite among many celebrities this year including Lea Michelle, Brittany Snow, and Chloe Moretz. It can be hard to pull off such vibrant colors but these ladies all looked stunning in their stylish dresses.

Let's hope that the Golden Globes adds to a great start to a glamorous 2013!

Green and Gold

OPI Here Today...Aragon Tomorrow, OPI The Man With the Golden Gun 18k Gold Top Coat

Denim and Fur

Top: Forever21, Pants: Zara, Vest: H&M, Watch: Michael Kors, Boots: Browns

Photo Frenzy

Well, it's official! I am now the proud owner of a brand new Canon EOS Rebel T3 and I couldn't be happier! After lusting over this camera for quite some time, I decided to bite the bullet and make the purchase. Luckily for me, I bought it while it was on sale for boxing day and got such a great deal.

So far I'm incredibly satisfied with its picture quality as well as its easy-to-use control layout. It even has high-def movie capture! I am no expert with cameras by any means but I'm definitely willing to learn and am so excited to take some awesome pictures with it. This obviously also means that I'll have plenty of great pictures to post on my blog!

For those of you who are interested in purchasing your first DSLR camera and are unsure which ones are great for beginners I would definitely recommend the Canon EOS Rebel T3. It's a great starter camera and comes at a pretty decent price. It typically retails at around $549.99 US but if that's out of your budget you can always find awesome deals if you search around a little bit. 

Winter Nail Polish Favourites

Despite the size of my nail polish collection, I have definitely been consistently using 4 amazing polishes this winter. All of the polishes are dark, wintery colours and go well with almost any fall/winter outfit! The glittery polishes are also PERFECT for the holidays !

The Best of YouTube Beauty

Throughout recent years I have become an avid fan of YouTube beauty videos that cover topics ranging from makeup to fashion, providing tutorials and tips to just about anyone who is willing to tune in. It’s no surprise then that this online community has  grown tremendously since its early days and has even managed to capture the attention of major celebrities and main stream media across the world.

Despite the endless selection of YouTube beauty videos, it is definitely important to fish out the novices from the experts. Given that YouTube is a platform full of user generated content, there is bound to be many highly ambitious ‘tweens’ exploring their hobbies or interests via viral videos.

For these reasons I have decided to compile a list of the top 5 beauty ‘gurus’ that I have encountered and watch regularly on YouTube. Most of these ladies have professional experience and specialize in the topics that they cover on their channels but a couple are simply very passionate and dedicated to what once was just a hobby or interest. I’m sure that many of you will appreciate what these lovely ladies have to offer just as much as I do !

              1. Lisa Eldridge

              2. Pixiwoo

              3. Tanya Burr or “Pixi2woo”

              4. Missglamorazzi

              5. MissJenFABULOUS - Amazing channel for the nail polish lovers out there!

There are tons of AMAZING beauty gurus on YouTube that all have something different to offer but these 5 channels are, in my opinion, some of the best ones out there ! I have learned a lot about makeup and skincare from all of these channels and have found these to be the most inspiring. Not to mention, all of these ladies are very hardworking, sincere, and especially fabulous !
Enjoy !

New Beginnings

As 2012 has come to an end, I’m sure that many of you are struggling to come up with some sort of new years resolution that is both realistic and somewhat achievable. I’m sure I am not the only one who has had slightly high hopes for previous resolutions only to forget about them normally by the end of January.
Despite my unsuccessful attempts in previous years, I have done a lot of thinking and have decided that I will dedicate this year to focusing on myself. I think that it’s about time I start paying attention to my own needs as opposed to those of others for once.
I’ve allowed this years resolution to be very broad while still putting an emphasis on things that will ensure my success and happiness in the future to come. Obviously this includes dedicating some time for several mani/pedis and possibly a few too many cosmos. It can’t possibly be that hard, right?
With this new found motivation I’ve decided first to start a blog! I don’t have a specific topic that I’d like to cover so this blog will most likely cover an assortment of things that generally interest me or that are happening in my life.
So here’s to a positive outlook on a wonderful year ahead full of happiness, laughter, and love !
Cheers !

Remember: Before I can take good care of anyone or anything I must first take good care of myself!